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2007 in review: Record-breaking year for philanthropy

Stanford University Medical Center scored a huge success this past fiscal year in raising funds for new initiatives in research and clinical care, as well as for new buildings to house these programs.

In the year that ended Aug. 31, the School of Medicine hit an all-time high with gifts and pledges that soared to $246 million, 70 percent higher than the previous year. Both Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital also registered new fundraising records, with gifts and pledges totaling $38 million and $106 million, respectively.

"Without question, this was a remarkable fundraising year for the entire medical center," said Philip Pizzo, MD, dean of the School of Medicine.

The medical school's two centerpiece projects both received a major boost during the year. The school raised $63 million toward a goal of $100 million for the Stanford Institutes of Medicine building 1, which will primarily house programs in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. The school also received contributions of $9 million toward the construction of the new Learning and Knowledge Center, which will be the focal point of all of its educational activities. Both projects are top priorities for fundraising for this year.

The two hospitals are fundraising in connection with their planning for major modernization projects to meet patient demand, to comply with state seismic safety standards and to ensure that new technology will be available here first. Stanford Hospital received its first major gift of $27.5 million from Marc Andreessen and Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen to upgrade its Emergency Department and to build a new one as part of the project. The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health generated $55 million in gifts and pledges for Packard Hospital, as well as $19 million for pediatric programs at the medical school. Grants through the Children's Health Initiative also increased to $31 million. —Ruthann Richter